THE POWER OF GRATITUDE ---

Let us start with one story --

At the time of BUDDHA, there lived an old beggar woman. She used to watch the kings, princes, and people making offerings to BUDDHA, and there was nothing she would have liked more than to be able to do the same. So she went out begging, but at the end of a whole day all she had was one small coin. She took it to the oil-merchant to try to buy some oil. He told her that she could not possibly buy anything with so little. But when he heard that she wanted it to make an offering to BUDDHA, he took pity on her and gave her the oil she wanted. She took it to the monastery, where she lit a lamp. She placed it before BUDHHA --“I have nothing to offer but this tiny lamp. But through this offering I want to express my Gratitude for everything that YOU have given to me in this life.”

That night the oil in all the other lamps went out. But the beggar woman’s lamp was still burning at dawn, when BUDDHA’s disciple Maudgalyayana came to collect all the lamps. When he saw that one was still alight, full of oil and with a new wick, he thought, “There’s no reason why this lamp should still be burning in the day time,” and he tried to blow it out. But it kept on burning. He tried to snuff it out with his fingers, but it stayed alight. He tried to smother it with his robe, but still it burned on. The BUDDHA had been watching all along, and said, “Maudgalyayana, do you want to put out that lamp? You cannot. You cannot even move it, let alone put it out. If you were to pour the water from all ocean over this lamp, it still wouldn’t go out. The water in all the rivers and the lakes of the world could not extinguish it. Why not? Because this lamp has been offered with genuine Gratitude in heart. The light of genuine Gratitude can’t be extinguished so easily.

MASTER keeps telling us in HIS satsangs... that one only need to say Shukar Hai Shukar Hai ( Thank YOU , Thank YOU ) with every breath. And if we spend a life time saying Thanks with every breath, it still wont ever be enough to thank our Benevolent FATHER.

Meister Eckhart once said -
If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is "thank you," it will be enough.

In fact we do have strongest reason to Thank HIM in our every breath. As we go through many of PERFECT MASTERS sayings we will realize that this Human body is because of HIS grace. In this body meeting A PERFECT MASTER is HIS grace. Having met HIM, when we receive HIS invitation to be with HIM forever ... is HIS biggest grace. None of these things we can acquire through our own efforts. And this invitation is a surety -- that we will one day understand the reality of this illusion. We will one day on our own want to leave this illusion of joy plus sorrows. And we will one day holding HIS hand finally leave it all behind....

What more can anyone hope or wish for ? That is enough reason to be thankful for.... Isn't it ?

HOW MANY OF US OFFER SUCH GRATITUDE TO LORD WHO HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING. THAT OLD WOMAN, POOR THAT SHE WAS, HAD LOT’S TO COMPLAIN. SHOULD SHE CHOOSE TO DO. YET SHE OFFERED HER GRATITUDE. FOR ALL THAT LORD HAS BESTOWED ON HER. AND WE WHO REALLY HAVE SO MUCH, CHOOSE TO ONLY COMPLAIN.

 THINK OVER THIS. IT IS SAID—WHEN DISCIPLE’S HEART IS FULL OF GENUINE GRATITUDE , MASTER CAN WORK FASTER ON THAT RECEPTIVE HEART.

And this is what we will talk about in our next part about GRATITUDE ...

For today let's just think about the depth of debt that we owe HIM ... And about how to ever be able to Thank HIM enough ----

 

 

YOUR WILL IS SWEET ---

TERA Bhana Meetha Laagey –

What is the power that can make a physical body endure inhuman tortures, and the spirit in this tortured body can yet smile and say HIS/ GOD will is sweet. Or even forgive all the tormentors and keep looking forward to ultimate release of spirit, in death ?

When we recount all those inhuman stories, we see one single thread running through this all...

We start from Jesus Christ ---  After going through many tortures on body, He was hung for six hours on cross. He was subjected to crown made of thrones, lashings, bearing heavy wooden cross and walk down to the place where He was then crucified. And yet as He was left to die slowly, He still managed to forgive all His tormentors and say --  “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do”. How can anyone manage to suffer and bear so much on physical body and yet utter words of forgiveness ??

 

 

Then there is this story of Sufi SAINT – Hazrat Sarmad Shaheed. HE was MASTER of Mugal Prince – Dara Shikoh. HE told HIS disciple that he will soon become a Sultan. Aurangzeb who was emperor then, though a younger brother to Dara Shikoh. Became fretful of the prediction by Sufi MASTER. Hazrat Sarmad was also brought to Aurangzeb’s court for many spiritual believes Hazrat Sarmad used to teach. When asked about this prophecy , Hazrat replied --  “Yes it is true; and that good news was truthful for he has attained the crown of the eternal sultanate.”

 

HE was then for many accusations declared guilty and sentenced for execution . The next day HE was taken to the execution spot. When the executioner came near to HIM with a gleaming sword in his hand, HE smiled on seeing him and then lifting HIS eyes to the heavens spoke these words:

“May I be sacrificed for YOU ! Come, come, for whichever guise YOU come in, I recognize YOU !” 

 

And then HE was beheaded.

 

Then there is this torture of Mansur Al-Hallaj. HE was cut to pieces slowly. But first HE was subjected to thrashings by stones. HE bore every hitting of stone with smile on HIS face. But when HIS loved disciple was forced to throw a stone, Shebil threw a flower instead and Mansur is reported to cry in pain as the flower touched HIS body. For HIS disciple knew what he was doing. 

 

Hallaj's hands and feet were then tied to the stake, and with a single stroke of his sword the executioner severed Hallaj's hands. HIS legs were cut off, HE smiled and said, "I used to walk the earth with these legs, now there's only one step to heaven, cut that if you can. "

 

The executioners then plucked out Hallaj's eyes and cast them upon the ground. Then they severed HIS ears and nose. An executioner then sought to pull Hallaj's tongue from HIS mouth, but Hallaj drew back and said: "O GOD. Permit ME one final word. I am so grateful that YOU have kept me steadfast and true. I wish that YOU would bestow this Grace upon my persecutors also." Hallaj's last words were, "The Love of the ONE separates you from all others." Then HIS tongue was pulled out and severed at its root. Hallaj's tormented body was left to bleed as HE merged slowly into death. At the time of evening prayer the executioner cut HIS head off with a single blow, releasing HIS soul unto GOD.

 

HIS death is described by ATTAR as a heroic act, as when they are taking HIM to court, a Sufi asks HIM: "What is love?" HE answers: "You will see it today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow. " They killed HIM that day, burned HIM the next day and threw HIS ashes to the wind the day after that. "This is love, " ATTAR says. 

 

 

And then comes torture of Shri GURU ARJAN DEV JI. From where comes these words – YOUR will is sweet. HE suffered 5 days of inhuman tortures. HE wasn’t given anything to eat or drink on first day. On second day HE was made to sit in boiling water. HE remained absorbed in the sweet remembrance of GOD and repeated--- 

"All is happening, O Waheguru, according to THY Will. THY Will is ever sweet to ME." 


On third day HE was again made to sit in boiling water while hot sand was poured on HIS body. All the while HE kept smiling and saying YOUR will is sweet. On forth day HE was made to sit on hot iron plate. On fifth day HE asked to go into river and never came back. 

But no ordinary human can go through all these inhuman tortures and still smile and give not only forgiveness to those who tortures their body buy say to GOD --- YOUR will is sweet.


And now here is our MASTER, going through chemo and yet manages to deliver discourses, darshan and so much more. No ordinary human can go through pains of cancer and chemo and still manage to lead a hectic life. 


So again the question ---- what is the power which enables all these SAINTS to go through ultimate extent of human body and yet keep smiling and working and forgiving at what we can only call as ----- MYSTICAL level.



And the answer is --- SHABAD DHUN/ THE CELESTIAL MUSIC. 

All of these SAINTS are one with That ONE CONSCIOUSNESS. They are attached to CELESTIAL MUSIC every single moment. They have become ONE with DIVINE MUSIC. As THEIR body suffer tortures THEIR consciousness remains immersed in this MUSIC.

And so next time when we think about our MASTER, and worry about HIS sufferings, which may be due to us. Let’s just remember that HE is not any ordinary human being. HIS body is not just any other body. HE is SHABAD incarnated in Body. And thus HE is beyond sufferings. But yes, all we can give HIM is our unconditional love. Love in form of Meditation. 


Just to let HIM know --- WE CARE...  

 PEACE AND BLISS TO ALL 
DO MEDITATION, LIVE IN HIS REMEMBRANCE. 
MAY HE RETURN BACK TO US SOONER ...AND IN BEST HEALTH ...  AMEN
Roohi

 

ANGUISH

There is anguish in the air. Spiritual anguish. And one can feel it pulsating. 

Since last many months things seems to be falling apart and souls seems to be stumbling in dark. Darkness of Faith and Darkness of Uncertainty. 

Many devotees saw the reality of Path they were following. As their honoured Guru was pulled in controversies and taken in custody. Whom to trust ? The bewildered souls , loosing Faith. And again stumbling in darkness. Probably for many births to come. May be never being able to trust so easily again. Why ? why such hard blow on their childlike Faith ?

Sometimes i even think, how this betrayal must hit so hard. The disciple and MASTER relation is as sacred and as intimate, in spiritual sense , as a relation of spouses. Or lovers. When one lover or spouse betrays another, the pain of this betrayal hits so hard. A pain beyond comparison. When a GURU/MASTER, proved fake, betrays His disciple/ soul. How hard it must hit. The pain must be equally unbearable. I certainly feel so.... It is a betrayal far greater then even marriage betrayal of this physical world. And the pain is greater then a betrayal of a spouse.

Yet many devotees are waiting for their BELOVED to come out of Samadhi. Craving one news of HIS wellbeing. Patiently and faithfully waiting and hoping. Not a shred of doubt on their non shakeable Faith. May their faith bring them best news soon.

And yet another group of souls .... eagerly and desperately await the news of wellbeing of their BELOVED. When will HE get well ?

Feels like ages. Feels like every breath is Anguished. Feels like every breath now craves for some good news. Any good news.

Many souls debates, many asks questions ... is it because of us ? is HE suffering because of us ? We even ask this question when HE despite HIS being so unwell, gives us chance to talk to HIM.. some how this question lost it’s urgency long ago. Amidst HIS sickness, and waiting for news of HIS well being. This question lost it’s need to be answered. The only thing remains.... when will HE be back to normal ? Back being well, and THEN between us. 

HE ask us – when we don’t meditate. Is this our Love ?? But now our soul whispers.... is this YOUR love ? When soul beseech HIM... have proper rest BELOVED, be well and then come between us. We want to see YOU well now. Not like this.... no.... not like this. Yes, this Definitely is HIM suffering on our behalf... so that HE just can be between us. 

I have no idea about many of you, my dear fellow souls.... But coming to this path so late... knowing my BELOVED so late. Already put urgency in my soul. I dreaded that day.... when HE just might leave this earth before me. Always praying --- for one good karma i just might have performed. Some where in some life... let me go before YOU. I am sure many souls whispers such prayers to BELOVED in their own heart. 

And so it feels like ages, heart torn apart, alternately hoping and sometimes scared out of wits. What will HE decide ? and another hope whispering simultaneously ...... let HIM decide to get well now... just get well now.... whispering.... if I loved YOU truly for even one single moment. One single moment of pure SIMRAN or REMEMBERANCE .... take everything..... and just come back well to me...

Until recently, we started feeling the anguish on deeper level. Nothing seems to hold attention for long. While once looking into future and dreaming of union with HIM, used to take up most of time, while days used to blend into constant waiting for being with HIM... now , days seem longer. Future yields no dreams. As day goes by..... every wish , that used hold HIM in centre , seems to leave heart. And i realized. Nothing else matters, accept HIM. HIS being between us, same as ever. Laughing, smiling, scolding, beseeching us to meditate. Delivering discourses, inspecting new things, new boundaries to be made.... giving HIS souls, HIS company. And while i from afar .... learning all these things from some lucky soul , who went and saw HIM in action. It has always been suffice to survive, it will remain suffice to survive... if only HE is well.

Accepted that HE is shabad incarnate. Accepted that this is not HIS true form. Accepted that HE can never leave us alone.... But then we haven't yet learned to go out of limits of mind and matter. Our meditations hasn't yet revealed us TRUTH if HIS Divine form. Nor have we yet the bliss of HIS word form... we are still very much in need of HIS this form. Can't yet let go.... YOU still have to teach us to go above mind and matter. YOU still has lot to do....

Things happening all over.... all the set backs of spiritual world. All the ... news.... comes up to only this point.... no we don’t want to loose YOU .... World seems unimaginable without YOU. Souls all over are loosing their BELOVED, some way or another. And it feels like a cry of pure Anguish of souls, is surrounding the creation. With YOU being far, and unwell. World seems..... not at all --- right. Come back WELL BELOVED. Just be well now.... 

TUMSE raha nahi jataa, duuriya humse bhi sahi nahi jaati,

Par sach maano halat aise bhi TUMHARI dekhi nahi jaati.

Ye kaisa ishq hai TUMHARA, na jeene deta hai na tootne,

Saanse is kadar atki hai, ki ek saans chain se lee nahi jaati.

Duniya ke is jungle me nannhi ruuhey bhatakti hai,

TUMHARE bina main ek kadam ab chal nahi sakti.

TUM le lo mere saare sapno ka, ye karwaa khatam kar do,

Bus bhar do wo umeed TUMHARE lautne ki, jo todi ab nahi jaati.

YOU can’t live without us, and we can’t live without YOU,

But it is not easy for us to keep seeing YOU like this.

What kind of love YOU are giving ? it’s not letting me live nor break down.

My breaths are laboured , can’t take one breath easily.

In this forest called world, every single soul is feeling lost,

And i for one, can not take one single step without YOU.

Take away all my dreams and finish every single wish,

But let me be left with this one hope fulfilled , of YOU coming back to us. 

Amen.

Peace and Bliss. Roohi....